# Valley of the Queens, Luxor

> The Valley of the Queens is the burial ground of pharaohs' wives and children on Luxor's West Bank. Foreign adults pay EGP 220, students EGP 110, for the tombs open that day — usually three. Nefertari's tomb is closed. Open daily from 6:00; last entry 16:00 in winter, 17:00 in summer. Allow an hour.

Web page: https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/valley-of-the-queens

- City: [Luxor](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor), Egypt
- YesGo score: 33/100 (Yes, if nearby)
- Time on site: 1 h
- Entry: EGP 220, Nefertari closed
- With kids: Fine with kids
- Foreign adult: EGP 220; students up to 24 with a valid student ID EGP 110
- Children: Under 6 free
- Hours: Daily from 6:00; last entry 17:00 in summer, 16:00 in winter and Ramadan
- Nefertari's tomb: Closed to visitors, no reopening date; no ticket for it in the official system
- What the ticket covers: The tombs open that day, usually Khaemwaset, Tyti and Amenherkhepshef
- Where to buy: Online at Egymonuments, in the Experience Egypt app or at the desk by the valley entrance
- Payment: Visa and Mastercard at all official channels, including site desks
- Time needed: About an hour for three tombs
- Location: Southern end of the Theban necropolis on the West Bank, about 1 km from Medinet Habu as the crow flies
- Getting there: Ferry plus a 20-min taxi, or about 40 min by car via the bridge
- Photos: Free with a phone; no flash in the tombs
- Coordinates: 25.72750, 32.59306
- Facts checked: 03.11.2026

## Key facts

- **Ta-Set-Neferu** — the ancient name: "the Place of Beauty" or "the Place of the Royal Children" (source: English and Russian Wikipedia)
- **90+** — tombs in the main wadi, with around twenty more in side valleys (source: English Wikipedia; Explore Luxor)
- **QV66** — the tomb of Nefertari, Ramesses II's great royal wife — the valley's most famous (source: English and Russian Wikipedia; Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities)
- **1904** — Ernesto Schiaparelli's Italian mission found Nefertari's tomb (source: English and Russian Wikipedia; Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities)
- **1992** — the Getty Conservation Institute and Egypt's antiquities service finished restoring Nefertari's paintings (source: English Wikipedia; Egypt Independent)
- **Senet** — the board game Nefertari plays on her tomb wall (source: English Wikipedia; Earth Trekkers)
- **Ramesses III** — father of princes Amenherkhepshef (QV55) and Khaemwaset (QV44), husband of Queen Tyti (QV52) (source: English Wikipedia; The Discoveries Of)
- **Sidelock of youth** — worn by Prince Amenherkhepshef in his tomb paintings, which show him as a child (source: English Wikipedia; Explore Luxor)
- **18th–20th Dynasties** — the span of burials, about five centuries of the New Kingdom (source: English and Russian Wikipedia)
- **1979** — UNESCO listing as part of Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis (source: English and Russian Wikipedia; Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities)

> **Nefertari's tomb is closed** Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities closed the Tomb of Nefertari to monitor humidity and decide whether it can reopen under controlled conditions. No date has been set, and the official ticketing system has no Nefertari ticket. If a tour sells you "Nefertari included", get it in writing and check the board at the ticket desk on the day.

## Valley of the Queens tickets and entrance fee

Egypt's official ticketing system lists the Valley of the Queens at **EGP 220** for foreign adults and **EGP 110** for students up to 24 with a valid student ID; children under 6 go free. The ticket covers whichever tombs are open that day — usually three. Phone photography is free. Tickets are dated and non-refundable.

Buy online at Egymonuments, in the Experience Egypt app or at the desk by the valley entrance. The ministry's FAQ says Visa and Mastercard work across all its channels, including site counters. Unofficially, this desk takes cards only and there's no ATM nearby, so bring a backup card. You'll still want Egyptian pounds in cash for the ferry, taxis and tips.

There's currently no separate Nefertari ticket. Before the closure it was sold on top of the valley ticket, and guidebooks quote anything from EGP 1,200 to EGP 2,500 for it (unofficial), so don't budget for it unless the ministry announces a reopening.

## Valley of the Queens opening hours

The valley opens **every day at 6:00**. Last entry is **17:00 in summer** and **16:00 in winter and during Ramadan**, and the ministry asks visitors to arrive at least an hour before closing. The hours match the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple and Medinet Habu.

Come early. The wadi is bare rock with almost no shade and gets very hot by midday; mornings also mean shorter waits at the tomb doors. In winter, mid-afternoon works too, after the tour groups have gone.

## Is the Valley of the Queens worth visiting?

Yes, as a second stop. With Nefertari closed, the open tombs are smaller and simpler than those in the [Valley of the Kings](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/valley-of-the-kings), but the paint — especially in Amenherkhepshef's tomb — is often brighter, the crowds are thin and the ticket costs less than a third as much. You'll see three tombs in an hour.

It isn't worth a special trip across the river on its own. Pair it with the Valley of the Kings, [Medinet Habu](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/medinet-habu) just over a kilometre away, or [Hatshepsut's temple](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/hatshepsut-temple). If you have only one West Bank morning, the Valley of the Kings comes first.

## Which tombs are open and what to see

- **Amenherkhepshef (QV55)** — a son of Ramesses III. The king leads the boy, wearing the sidelock of youth, before the gods; vivid colour and a pink granite sarcophagus in the burial chamber.
- **Khaemwaset (QV44)** — another son of Ramesses III. A long corridor of painted reliefs: the king before Ptah, Thoth, Anubis and Ra-Horakhty, with the Sons of Horus and guardian goddesses in the side rooms.
- **Queen Tyti (QV52)** — wife of Ramesses III and probably the mother of Ramesses IV. The queen before Ptah, Thoth and Ma'at, the Sons of Horus, and Hathor as a cow in a side chamber.
- **Nefertari (QV66)** — closed for now. If it reopens, expect a separate, expensive ticket and a short, supervised visit.
- The open list rotates to protect the paintings — check the board at the ticket desk (unofficial).

## The Tomb of Nefertari (QV66)

Nefertari was the great royal wife of **Ramesses II**, who also dedicated the small temple at Abu Simbel to her. Schiaparelli's mission found her tomb in 1904, already robbed in antiquity: only fragments of a granite sarcophagus, shabtis and a few objects remained, some now in the Museo Egizio in Turin.

Its fame rests on the paintings. A rock-cut stair leads to an antechamber under a starry ceiling, and on down to a burial hall with painted pillars. Nefertari makes offerings, prays and plays **senet**, surrounded by Isis, Osiris, Hathor, Anubis, winged Ma'at and chapters of the Book of the Dead.

Salt in the plaster makes the colour fragile, which is why visits have always been rationed. The Getty Conservation Institute and Egypt's antiquities service carried out the restoration from 1988 and finished it in 1992. Before the current closure, unofficial sources put the ticket at EGP 1,200–2,500, with 10–15 minutes allowed inside.

## Valley of the Queens vs Valley of the Kings

|  | Valley of the Queens | Valley of the Kings | Temple of Hatshepsut |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| What it is | Tombs of queens and princes | Rock-cut tombs of pharaohs | Terraced mortuary temple of a queen |
| Foreign adult | EGP 220 | EGP 750 | EGP 440 |
| Student | EGP 110 | EGP 375 | EGP 220 |
| Open | From 6:00; last entry 17:00 summer, 16:00 winter | From 6:00; last entry 17:00 summer, 16:00 winter | From 6:00; last entry 17:00 summer, 16:00 winter |
| Time needed | About an hour | 2–3 hours | About an hour |

Fares and hours from Egypt's official ticketing system (Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities). Visit times are YesGo estimates.

## History of the Valley of the Queens

The ancient Egyptians called the wadi **Ta-Set-Neferu**, "the Place of Beauty". It was used from the 18th to the 20th Dynasty, but the decorated royal tombs belong mostly to the reigns of Ramesses II and Ramesses III. More than 90 tombs are known in the main valley and about twenty more in side wadis, most of them small and undecorated.

Ernesto Schiaparelli's Italian mission cleared the valley in the early 1900s, opening the tombs of Ramesses III's sons and, in 1904, Nefertari's. Nearly all had been robbed in antiquity, and many were later reused for burials of a much later date. Nefertari's paintings were saved by a joint Getty and Egyptian team, which finished the restoration in 1992 and still monitors the tomb.

## How to get to the Valley of the Queens

1. Start at Luxor Temple on the Corniche — the public ferry to the West Bank leaves from the landing beside it.
2. Cross on the ferry: a few minutes and a few pounds (unofficial).
3. Take a taxi from the West Bank landing: about 20 minutes to the valley. There are no meters, so agree the fare first — ideally a full West Bank loop with waiting time.
4. No change of transport: a taxi or the inDrive app (cash) from the centre over the bridge south of town, about 40 minutes.
5. Stop at the [Colossi of Memnon](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/colossi-of-memnon) on the way; Medinet Habu is about a kilometre from the valley as the crow flies, so add it with the same driver.

## Before you go

- [ ] Dated ticket bought online, or a card ready for the desk
- [ ] A backup card — there's no ATM nearby
- [ ] Student ID if you're 24 or under
- [ ] Egyptian pounds in cash for the ferry and taxi
- [ ] Water, a hat and sturdy shoes — no shade, rocky paths
- [ ] No plans built around Nefertari — it's closed

## Luxor history: compare and choose

All historic sites in Luxor rated by YesGo.

- [Luxor Temple](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/luxor-temple) — YesGo score 52/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 15 min · EGP 500, students EGP 250
- [Karnak Temple](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/karnak-temple) — YesGo score 50/100 (Yes, go) · 2 h 30 min · EGP 600, students EGP 300
- [Colossi of Memnon](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/colossi-of-memnon) — YesGo score 50/100 (Yes, go) · 20 min · Free, no ticket
- [Valley of the Kings](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/valley-of-the-kings) — YesGo score 49/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · EGP 750, Tutankhamun extra
- [Temple of Hatshepsut](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/hatshepsut-temple) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · EGP 440, students EGP 220
- [Avenue of Sphinxes](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/avenue-of-sphinxes) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 40 min · Free to view (unofficial)
- [Ramesseum](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/ramesseum) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · EGP 220, students EGP 110
- [Luxor Museum](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/luxor-museum) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · EGP 400, students EGP 200
- [Medinet Habu](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/medinet-habu) — YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · EGP 220, students EGP 110
- [Valley of the Queens](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/valley-of-the-queens) — YesGo score 33/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · EGP 220, Nefertari closed

## The West Bank in a day

Valley of the Kings at opening, then Hatshepsut, the Valley of the Queens and Medinet Habu, and the Colossi of Memnon on the way back. Add it to your route — YesGo sets the timings and transfers.

1. [Valley of the Kings](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/valley-of-the-kings) — YesGo score 49/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · EGP 750, Tutankhamun extra
2. [Temple of Hatshepsut](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/hatshepsut-temple) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · EGP 440, students EGP 220
3. [Valley of the Queens](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/valley-of-the-queens) — YesGo score 33/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · EGP 220, Nefertari closed
4. [Medinet Habu](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/medinet-habu) — YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · EGP 220, students EGP 110
5. [Colossi of Memnon](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/colossi-of-memnon) — YesGo score 50/100 (Yes, go) · 20 min · Free, no ticket

## Don't confuse

Nefertari, wife of Ramesses II, is buried here. Nefertiti, wife of Akhenaten, lived decades earlier; her famous bust is in Berlin and she has nothing to do with this valley. Hatshepsut's temple isn't in either valley — it stands in the neighbouring bay of Deir el-Bahari.

## Tips

- Arrive at opening: the wadi is exposed, the rock heats up fast, and the queues at the tomb doors are shortest early.
- Start with Amenherkhepshef — the brightest paint of the open tombs — then Khaemwaset and Tyti.
- Read the board at the ticket desk: it shows which tombs are open today, and whether anything beyond the standard ticket is on offer.
- Read up on the scenes beforehand or bring a guide: the signs at each tomb are brief.
- The craftsmen's village of Deir el-Medina — home of the men who cut and painted the royal tombs — is close by and easy to add with the same driver.
- Don't touch the walls or the glass screens, and keep the flash off: the colour sits on a thin, salt-damaged plaster layer.

## Questions

### How much is the Valley of the Queens ticket?

EGP 220 for foreign adults and EGP 110 for students up to 24 with ID; children under 6 go free, per the official ticketing system.

### Is Nefertari's tomb open?

No. The ministry closed it to monitor humidity and has not announced a reopening date. There's no Nefertari ticket in the official system.

### How much was the Nefertari tomb ticket?

Before the closure it was sold on top of the valley ticket; unofficial sources quote EGP 1,200 to 2,500, with 10–15 minutes allowed inside. There's no current official price.

### Which tombs are open in the Valley of the Queens?

Usually Amenherkhepshef (QV55), Khaemwaset (QV44) and Queen Tyti (QV52). The list rotates for conservation, so check the board at the ticket desk.

### What are the Valley of the Queens opening hours?

Daily from 6:00. Last entry is 17:00 in summer and 16:00 in winter and during Ramadan.

### Is the Valley of the Queens worth visiting?

Yes, as an add-on to the Valley of the Kings or Medinet Habu: bright paintings, few people and a cheap ticket. On its own, with Nefertari closed, it isn't worth a separate trip.

### Valley of the Kings or Valley of the Queens?

If you only have time for one, choose the Valley of the Kings — bigger tombs and the pharaohs themselves. The Valley of the Queens is the calmer, cheaper second stop.

### How long do you need at the Valley of the Queens?

About an hour for three tombs, plus 20–40 minutes each way from central Luxor.

### How do I get to the Valley of the Queens from Luxor?

Take the public ferry from beside Luxor Temple, then a taxi for about 20 minutes, or drive over the bridge in about 40 minutes.

### Can I take photos inside the tombs?

Yes, with a phone, free of charge. Flash isn't allowed (unofficial), and drones need a special permit in Egypt.

## How we checked

Fares, concessions, hours (summer, winter and Ramadan) and free phone photography come from the Valley Of The Queens page of the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities' official ticketing system, as do the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut figures in the comparison; card payment comes from the same system's FAQ. The official system lists no Nefertari ticket. The closure to monitor humidity comes from the ministry's monuments site, and Egypt Independent reports that reopening is still under study; current guides (Explore Luxor, The Discoveries Of, Earth Trekkers) also describe it as closed. Sources disagree on the former Nefertari price: English Wikipedia gives EGP 2,000, The Discoveries Of EGP 1,200 and Explore Luxor EGP 2,500; the time inside is 10 minutes (Explore) or 15 minutes (Wikipedia), so we show ranges and mark them as checking. A Spanish news item about a reopening at 100 euros that turns up in search dates from 2016, so we don't use it. The list of open tombs, the card-only desk, the flash ban, the ferry and travel times come from guidebooks and are marked "verifying". Tomb count: English Wikipedia gives 91 in the main valley plus 19 in side valleys, Explore Luxor "over 90", Russian Wikipedia "up to 70"; we use "90+" from two sources. Sources give different years for Schiaparelli's excavations, so we say "early 1900s". Wikipedia calls Tyti's motherhood of Ramesses IV probable, and so do we. The distance to Medinet Habu (about 1.1 km in a straight line) is calculated from Wikidata coordinates; by road it is further. Other historical facts are checked against at least two sources.

## Sources

- Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, official Egymonuments ticketing: Valley Of The Queens, Valley Of Kings, Hatshepsut Temple — fares, hours, concessions; FAQ — payment and refunds
- Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, monuments site: anniversary of the discovery of Queen Nefertari's tomb; Ancient Thebes and its Necropolis
- Egypt Independent: authorities mull reopening the tomb of Queen Nefertari
- English Wikipedia: Valley of the Queens, Tomb of Nefertari, QV55, QV44, QV52; Wikidata Q260386
- Russian Wikipedia: Долина Цариц, QV66
- Explore Luxor: Valley of the Queens; Luxor Entrance Fees; Luxor Ticket Offices (unofficial)
- The Discoveries Of: Valley of the Queens; Earth Trekkers: Tomb of Queen Nefertari; Explore: Tomb of Nefertari (unofficial)

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